Illuminations: The Private Lives of Medieval Kings

Through this three part series Art Historian Dr Janina Ramirez tells the story of the Medieval monarchy as preserved through stunning illuminated manuscripts from the British Library's Royal Manuscripts collection.

Overview Seasons Similar

Created By
Status	Ended
Original Name	Illuminations: The Private Lives of Medieval Kings
First Air Date	January 9, 2012
Last Air Date	January 23, 2012
Seasons	1
Episodes	3
Episode Runtime	0min
Language	English, French
Original Language	English
Production Countries	United Kingdom
Production Companies	Oxford Film and Television BBC
Networks	BBC Four

S01E03

Libraries Gave Us Power

The story of the British Library's Royal Manuscripts collection reaches its end with the last great flowering of illumination, in the magnificent courts of the Tudors. She investigates astrological texts created for Henry VII, and unwraps his will - still in its original, extravagantly-decorated velvet and gold cover. She hears music written for Henry VIII, which went unperformed for centuries; and reads love notes between the king and Anne Boleyn, written in the margins of a prayer book. Janina also visits Bruges, the source of many of the greatest manuscripts, where this medieval art form collided with the artistic innovations of the Renaissance.

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